Cleaners increase in hourly rate

[user1478790138]

Hello

First thread here so pls be gentle.

We have a largeish house in the Nottinghamshire, 6 BR, 4 BA and a fairly large ground floor, 2 children and dogs. Have had a pair of cleaners who come twice a week (initially three times but then it was to hectic for us) for several months now and paid £12ph, they want to increase it to 13.5 now. They do the cleaning and tidying, of which there is a fair amount but I don’t limit them time wise. Not sure now how to react, we’ve had them since March, somehow an increase of 100+ quid a month seems a bit steep in such a short period of time? What would you do??
Thank you

@antsinyourpanta

No I didn't know that so it's really helpful that someone on the internet to set me straight.

Essential means different things to different people. You can define what the word means to you - but you can't control other people's use of language.

Anyone with long term illness or disability, perhaps on ESA, or pensioners with mobility issues - they may need to pay for a cleaner. Are you going to tell them that's not 'essential'?

@TatianaBis

Oooooh I really don't know do tell me?

By people do you mean men or women because the answer to your questions depends very much on gender. Men in general still do a lot less cleaning and domestic work than women. Even if both are working FT.

If women developed a bit more of a sense of male entitlement on the subject of cleaning: that it is someone else's job not theirs: they may be less tired.

When I was young and broke I prioritised a cleaner over alcohol and cinema. It was a question of priorities.

Having to choose between alcohol/cinema and a cleaner is a very privileged position to be in.

A woman "growing a sense of male entitlement" and realising it isn't her job to clean doesn't magic up money to pay for an essential cleaner 🤷🏻‍♀️

@nordicnorth

I'm not the one being goady. Nor am I the one swearing at people.

I'd say most people would say when you're living on tinned beans and can't afford the pub or the cinema then you're quite broke.

What does going for a Monty Python Four Yorkshiremen sketch achieve?

Just accept people have different views on the internet & use language differently.

A woman "growing a sense of male entitlement" and realising it isn't her job to clean doesn't magic up money to pay for an essential cleaner

No it doesn't, but it could be magicked from her partner's Sky sport subscription, gaming/cycling paraphernalia, weekend pub visit - many things men prioritise far ahead of cleaning and then expect their partner to do it for free.

@TatianaBis you have a very narrow view of what men prioritise is this based on your own personal experience?

@TatianaBis

A woman "growing a sense of male entitlement" and realising it isn't her job to clean doesn't magic up money to pay for an essential cleaner

No it doesn't, but it could be magicked from her partner's Sky sport subscription, gaming/cycling paraphernalia, weekend pub visit - many things men prioritise far ahead of cleaning and then expect their partner to do it for free.

I think we have different definitions of what constitutes 'very low income'. The households I'm referring to don't have any of these things.

I didn't say that defines a 'very low income'. That to me doesn't cover food/utilities/rent and a cleaner is not an option.

But we're on a thread about a woman paying for 20 hours cleaning a week: covering one extreme to another.

@TatianaBis

Cleaning is essential no? If cleaning needs to be done but both partners are working long hours then a cleaner is essential.

I don’t care whether you agree with me.

If more women got with the programme they would spend less time cleaning on top of working FT while their DP puts his feet up.

@TatianaBis what planet are you speaking from? On planet earth many households have partners where both work long hours but cannot possibly afford a cleaner!

Working long hours does not make you rich.

On planet earth many households have partners where both work long hours but cannot possibly afford a cleaner!

Where have I denied this?

@TatianaBis see my quote from you beneath your post. Where you said that if both partners work long hours then a cleaner is "essential".

I agree it would be nice to have a cleaner under these circumstances- but it's not essential to those in a low income, as it's impossible!

wanted to resurrect this thread as i am a cleaner and charge £13 in London.
Had a job today and because i didn't tidy and iron the woman told me to not come back and sent me a mean message to not come back.
She however has over paid me by £25
she didnt reply to a message i sent her explaining myself for not tidying

do i tell her about the overpayment or leave it?

@DogsandCatsB4u

wanted to resurrect this thread as i am a cleaner and charge £13 in London. Had a job today and because i didn't tidy and iron the woman told me to not come back and sent me a mean message to not come back. She however has over paid me by £25 she didnt reply to a message i sent her explaining myself for not tidying

do i tell her about the overpayment or leave it?

Just leave it, at least until she apologises. Whether intended or not, consider yourself short-changed over severance pay, most reasonable people would give at least 2 weeks unless there's been theft.

Also -
1)consider charging £15,
2) make expectations a little clearer on both sides about paying for hours worked plus which tasks are a priority,
3) try to get nicer clients who appreciate you.

As your cleaner has increased her charges I'm assuming she's paid as a self employed person so isn't entitled to SSP, SMP or holiday pay. You're not paying ER's NIC. In that situation she's not expensive.

Dogs how do you know she overpaid you by accident? Maybe she paid you extra hoping that you would take longer and tidy up?